New Delhi: Indian Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba and his Indian Air Force (IAF) counterpart, Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa, have been given Z-plus security by the home ministry in light of the tensions between India and Pakistan, ThePrint has learnt.
The two chiefs so far did not have any security cover sanctioned by the Centre, with a Marcos commando on Lanba’s security detail and a Garud commando on Dhanoa’s. The Indian Army has its own security protocol to protect its chief.
According to a source in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the decision to extend a Z-plus security cover to the two was catalysed by the ongoing showdown between India and Pakistan. It was taken by a committee comprising Intelligence Bureau (IB) officials, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Secretary Rajiv Guaba, which holds the mandate on this matter.
“The decision was taken keeping in mind the current situation, the threat perception, and to ensure the security of both the chiefs,” the source said. “After a detailed analysis of the alerts and threats, it was decided that the two chiefs be given Z-plus security.”
While the committee usually takes up applications moved by individuals or state governments, it was intelligence inputs that spurred a decision in this case.
Others assigned a Z-plus security detail include the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister, Supreme Court and high court judges, governors, chief ministers, and members of the Union Cabinet.
What does Z-plus security include?
The two chiefs will now have a round-the-clock security cover of at least 36 personnel.
The team usually consists of National Security Guard (NSG) or Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel, but may at times comprise personnel from the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), along with an escort car.
NSG commandos on Z-plus security duty are armed with sophisticated weapons, including MP5 submachine guns and AK-47 assault rifles.
The cover also includes a house protection team to secure the residence of protectees.
“Z-plus security includes a pilot and an escort car… The idea [behind the cover] is to provide a round-the-clock close-proximity security cover to VVIPs,” a security source told ThePrint.
It is the highest level of security, with the subsequent category comprising 22 personnel (Z). The Y category comprises at least 11 personnel and the X category has at least two.